Top Ten Teams
1) Texas Tech- A week off before a big game
2) Alabama- Great job on special teams yesterday.
3) Utah-They blew someone out, everyone happy?
4) Boise-Won by 35 for the second straight week .
5) Ball State-Big test this week with CMU.
6) Texas-Didn't look like a trap from where I was sitting.
7) Oklahoma-Big games from here on out.
8) USC-So Pete Carroll rubs it in and gets mad when someone tries to show him up?
9) Florida-That Ole Miss loss really sitting tough with Gator Nation.
10) Penn State- Nothing fancy, just a solid win.
Top Ten Games I Watched This Week
1) Maryland 17, North Carolina 15-As an exciting of a 4th quarter as we have seen all year.
2) Central Michigan 33, Northern Illinois 30 (OT)- Monster comeback goes for naught in OT.
3) USC 45, Stanford 23-Those who had the 24 points and saw the game know where I'm coming from.
4) Notre Dame 27, Navy 21-Not decided until the final gun sounded.
5) UTEP 36, SMU 10-Not an exciting game but the people at The College Football Place forum pounded it all week and they obviously proved once again they know a lot more than the casual fan. Thanks everyone for making me look good.
6) Wisconsin 35, Minnesota 32-The two teams gave it everything they had.
7) My weekly picking contest- Very hotly contested and it took a 12-3 run against the spread by Mark to bring home the title this week.
8) Miami 16, Virginia Tech 14-I'm still smiling from ear to ear.
9) LSU 40, Troy 31-Monstrous comeback when they were left for done.
10) Georgia 17, Auburn 13-This really wasn't a good game at all.
Top Ten Movies People Said I Left Off of My Top Ten Sports Movies Last Week
1) Bull Durham- I guess everyone thought this belonged.
2) The Natural- People are starting to think I'm anti-baseball.
3) King Pin- What was I thinking?
4) Happy Gilmore-Guilty as charged.
5) The Waterboy-Not sure how this slipped through the cracks.
6) Field of Dreams-On a week Iowa knocked off #1 no less.
7) Blades of Glory-Token skating movie.
8) The Gumball Rally-Brings back some memories.
9) The North Dallas Forty- John Mutuzak larger than life.
10) Seabiscuit- And I'm a horse guy too.
Top Ten Big Ten Running Backs (Thanks to Kistofer Green)
1) Beanie Wells-Anyone see the big guy hurdle someone yesterday?
2) Shonn Green- He's been a difference maker for Iowa.
3) Javon Ringer-Not a Heisman winner but very good.
4) P.J. Hill-He's scary good.
5) John Clay- Good enough to take carries away from P.J. Hill.
6) Evan Royster- I never saw this coming.
7) Kory Sheets-Has had a very nice year.
8) Daniel Dufrene-Not quite Mendenhall, yet.
- B/R Ticket Guide
9) Tyrell Sutton- The Wildcats are a different team when he plays.
10) DeLeon Eskridge-This school just churns out backs.
Top Ten Things I Heard In the New In-Game Chat Room
1) Mitch Loves Northern Illinois- I got news for you, Mitch loves any team that covers a lot.
2) I knew (fill in the blank) would win- Well if you knew it would have been nice to tell the rest of us ahead of time.
3) I Need a Three Team Parlay Lock-Why stop there, may as well ask for the winning Mega Millions numbers.
4) I really like the site-Thanks for all of the feedback. We know it needs work this off season but we like the place too.
5) Anything non-football- I am enjoying a chance to chat with everyone and find out where everyone else is from, etc. and look forward to chatting with everyone else as well.
6) YIPPEE!!- Yeah, we were all pretty hot this week, it was good one.
7) Are you going to do an NFL site?- Yes we are, we are hoping to have it up in plenty of time for the draft.
8) What are you going to do when the season is over?- Well, after recruiting and then my NFL draft book I'm writing, as well additional draft coverage that should give me about a month or so in the summer to work on all of the other projects we're working on.
9) Can I get involved?-Being a member of the community you already are involved but if you want to be involved on another level with The College Football Place or any of the coming sites there will be plenty of opportunities on a lot of levels, we just need to get the map in place and We'll be ready to go and we'll let everyone know.
10) How do you make money off of your site?-Right now we don't make much off of the site. As you see we don't have a lot of ads and those ads we do have we carefully select as we don't allow just anyone to advertise on the site; we are also not selling anything as if we do we want it to be a tremendous value and something you can't just get anywhere. We just want to keep the site what we wanted it to be, a place for College Football fans to get together and get real. If we end up making a few bucks at some point, wonderful, if not, we think everyone really likes the place and feels welcome here.
Top Ten Teams Who Have Far Exceeded Expectations
1) Alabama-We thought they would be better but certainly not contending for the title.
2) Buffalo-These guys are pretty good.
3) Rice-And they're fun to watch too.
4) Vandy- I don't think anyone had them penciled in for a bowl.
5) Northwestern-I think I have the word doormat written next to them in my pre-season notes.
6) Oregon State-And Mike Riley gets no mention for Coach of the Year.
7) Oklahoma State-Didn't even consider them a factor.
8) Miami-Not just here because they are my favorite, they have earned it.
9) Ole Miss-Most people though it would take Houston Nutt a few years to be competitive.
10) Florida State- Bowden still has something left.
Top Ten Biggest Disappointments
1) Michigan-The bowl streak is over, 1 year after beating Florida on New Year's Day.
2) Tennessee-Perhaps the worst year for the Vols in my lifetime.
3) Clemson-Became also-rans by week 1
4) Georgia- when your goal is a national title two beat down losses are even worse.
5) Auburn-They just look clueless.
6) Missouri- Proved an inability to step it up when they needed to.
7) Arizona State- They didn't come close to making a run at the Pac-10 title.
8) West Virginia-A lot of high expectations unfulfilled.
9) Miami (OH)- MAC favorites aren't good at all.
10) Washington State-An embarrassment to D-1 football.
Mitch's 2009 Pre-season Top 10
1) Florida-If Tebow is back this is where they will be.
2) Ohio State-Pryor with a year under his belt.
3) USC-The Trojans are always near the top these days.
4) Alabama- They are so young and so good.
5) Texas- The Colt McCoy show continues.
6) Oklahoma-Bradford will be there and so will the Sooners.
7) Oregon State-This team is really young.
8) Miami-Will be a lot of people's choice to win the whole thing.
9) Florida State-The Miami game will probably decide one of the National Championship game teams.
10) Georgia- Maybe we'll get to use all of the Uga pics again.
Top Ten Teams That Still Play Defense
1) USC- I give them a hard time but they can play some D.
2) TCU- Served up with a with a side of attitude.
3) Alabama- Have a huge, athletic Defensive Tackle, no mystery as to why they are contenders.
4) Auburn-Can you imagine how ugly it could have gotten if they didn't?
5) Boise State-I know we normally think of them running up and down the field but it's been a short field this year.
6) Utah-That's why they are undefeated, haven't been lighting up the scoreboard.
7) Florida-Quietly, behind their awesome special teams.
8) Miami-All of their tradition was built on D and they are going that way again.
9) Cincinnati-They have it all on D. The surge up the middle and smother corners.
10) Virginia Tech-Even without the personnel Bud Foster disrupts game plans.
Top Ten Games On This Week's Schedule
1) Texas Tech at Oklahoma-National Title implications.
2) Brigham Young at Utah- It's Holy War.
3) Michigan State at Penn State-Sounds like classic Big Ten Football to me.
4) Pittsburgh at Cincinnati-The Big East comes into focus.
5) Michigan at Ohio State-Always a big game. Anyone think a win might make the Wolverines season?
6) Ball State at Central Michigan- The road trip that stands in the way of Ball State's perfect season.
7) Stanford at Cal-We get to see the best highlight ever all week long.
8) Boise at Nevada- Break out the abacus.
9) NC State at North Carolina-Big time stuff.
10) Oregon State at Arizona-Can the Beavers beat out the Trojans as PAC-10 champs?
Visit Mitch anytime at The College Football Place
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about 1 month ago
You still left off Rocky IV! He surprises the world, and makes Russia pro-Rocky!
I am going to retire from your picking contest if I keep putting up lackluster performances back-to-back. It is going worse than my real betting.
Great read as always Mitch, but you think if Tech wins against Oklahoma, Baylor, Missouri, and then the NCG, and end the season #1, you couldn't find a way to slide them into next year's Top 10?
from about 1 month ago
I know Ivan Drago reeks of an Oscar but I would have to pity the fool that puts Rocky 4 ahead of Rocky 3. Never retire...it isn't cumulative so you have the same record as everyone else this week. by the bowls I'll have the T-shirts and be giving away other levels of prizes. i think you may have just been not as focused with the red raiders on break. without crabtree and harrell it's going to be tough sledding in lubbock next year
about 1 month ago
I love top 10 lists, so I'll have to stay tuned for more. But seriously man, your "left off" list of top sports movies includes way too many classics. Something tells me you don't really like baseball, seeing as you left the best three baseball movies of all time off the list.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comments. I do this article and have done it every week of the season so if you like top tens I've done over 120 of them this season and they are all archived under my profle here and on my site as well. Thanks for the read and if you see my top 10 sports movies from last week you'll even agree there isn't a slouch in the bunch. I will probably continue this series for many years to come
from about 1 month ago
Oooh, I see some slumping shoulders in that list...lol. Nah, good movies, but certainly Field of Dreams, Bull Durham, and/or the Natural still belong on the list. By the way, for the "token skating movie" you might've considered one of the great "guy-chick" movie of all time, Miracle. That is an incredible movie, and definitely deserving of at least the top 20.
about 1 month ago
Mitch,
I was surprised that Ball State isn't on your Top Ten Teams Who Have Far Exceeded Expectations. They are 10-0, and they lost their breakout receiver early in the season. Who would have predicted that?
Win or lose, I'm pumped for the game against Tech here in Norman. I'm hoping home field makes a difference.
Good win for you guys against the Hokies. I realized while watching it that I am offensively spoiled now.
from about 1 month ago
I think Ball State has played a soft schedulre and may be in trouble this week. I know I'll be ready to stop getting the emails telling me how stupid I am for putting them ahead of all of those other teams...lol
Thanks for reading and the comments and good luck in wht should be a great game.
from about 1 month ago
I agree they've played a soft schedule, but so has Notre Dame, and they aren't 10-0. :) It's still a good story even it ends in the next two weeks.
about 1 month ago
Good article. I enjoyed it.
Your Florida St./Miami prediction for next year is based on what? Past History? Kind of like watching Lou on Espn talk about Notre Dame. Who will be predicting Miami to win it all next year? Maybe a win in the ACC Championship and Orange Bowl will help their cause. But that has not happen yet. If Miami played the top 6 BCS teams next week they would get destroyed by all of them. I see 30 pt wins by 5 out of 6 of them. AL may be closer than 30 based on the kind of game they play. Although, AL would completely dominate Miami.
Thanks for the respect you gave Mizzou this year. As a fan and an Alum I am very dissappointed in our season. But Mizzou is 9-2. We won our second Big North title in our history. I think we have only been 9-2 or better once in the past 40 years, which was last year. We lost to 3rd ranked TX and 12th ranked OK St. Although, we do not have any signature wins, Mizzou does not usually beat NU, CO, K ST, and IA St. in the same year. Top 6 on your list is a compliment I guess?
from about 1 month ago
My prediction on Miami and FSU is based on the fact that they play more Freshmen than any other schools in the country and have had a top 5 recruting class last year and are headed for 1 this year. If you are in Missouri then you know of Arthur and Bryce Brown, the class only begins there. Miami doesn't just play the freshman, the bulk of their starters are freshman sprinkled with a few Sopohmores, it isn't based on history, it's based that both of these teams have put together pretty solid years with no experiece and the bulk of their roster runs 4.4 40's. I think you may want to research things before making an assumption.
Mizzou is 9-2 but this ws their chance to make it the next level and that isn't going to materialize. Unfortunately for them the bulk of their confernce is headed upwards so this may have been the best chance they get in a while.
Thanks fo rthe comments and good luck to your team and congrats on putting together some very good seasons.
from about 1 month ago
Research what? Past recruiting classes? Freshman playing? You are basing Miami being in the National Championship on those 2 things? Notre Dame and Florida State have had fantastic recruiting classes every year. I do not believe TX Tech has had a top 20 recruiting class in the past 4 years. I thought performance on the field and coaching predict next years national champions. Saying Miami is going to have a good team is a little different than predicting them as playing in next years national championship game. Your current coach has not done anything yet as a head coach. Not saying he will not in the future, but he has not yet to date. Sure, if Miami pulls off some impressive wins this year with 2 opportunities left in the season. Maybe someone could reason with their prediction as putting Miami in the title game next year. As of today, your prediction will seem brilliant if it does happen. If it doesn't, you look like a Miami homer pushing your team when you are trying to establish credibility with a new website.
from about 1 month ago
To respond to my last statement. Being from Miami your pick for them to be in the National Title game will not seem brilliant if they land there. It will seem like an emotional pick. So really it is a no win situation. That is why broadcasters try to stay away from picking their teams. I may be way out of line here but I thought you handicap games on your webiste.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks D, I look forward to reading your insightful articles as a team made up of primarily freshmen competing for a conference title is far from what anyone expected from Miami this year and they are currently on a 5 game winning streak so to be honest I don't understand what you are talking about. I look forward to reading your season preview since you seem to be well educatedon this subkect.
I appreciate your input.
Mitch
from about 1 month ago
Mitch,
Conference title in the ACC this year with the ACC teams? 5 game winning streak includes wins over who? Again, Miami is having a good year. Again, they have some top recruits. As I said before after winning the ACC championship and Orange bowl you could talk about the national title next year. As of today with this season's resume I think it is a little of a stretch. Randy Shannon is not Nick Saban. Could he be, sure.
UCF 20-14
Duke 49-31
Wake Forest 16-10
Virginia 24-17
Virginia Tech 16-14
New Promising Coach
Top Recruiting classes
Returning starters
Add up to National Title Game. I do not understand what you are talking about.
You talking about history and what you done in the past.
from about 1 month ago
You arr correct, Randy Shannon is not Nick Saban, Shannon has many more championship rings than Saban and is a better recruiter. I guess we will see.
from about 1 month ago
National title game? My research is fine. You may want to research a little better.
about 1 month ago
As always, great article... except:
"Mitch's 2009 Pre-season Top 10
2) Ohio State-Pryor with a year under his belt."
I'd put them at #8 until we see a few games... OSU is losing a lot of seniors...
from about 1 month ago
Nothing Jim Tressel does anymore surprises me. When you expect nothing like last year it's the title game. The guy can flat out recruit and coach. Pryor is good for 7 wins by himself.
Thanks for the comments.
about 1 month ago
Great article as usual miami.
Here's my own top 5 for next week...
OSU vs. stinky ones up north
Mich State vs Penn State
BYU vs Utah
Texas Tech vs OK
Patron Anejo
Strap on the safety belts, next Saturday is going to be a marathon!
from about 1 month ago
I expected nothing less from a Big Ten guy. If your a fan of the game you are going to enjoy the next month or so, should be a great one.
Thanks for the comments.
about 1 month ago
Mitch,,,, tsk tsk.............
FSU a top ten ten next year??? really LOL
EVERY team plays 16 to 20 freshman in today's world. So just because Miami's freshman play a good bit this year, shows the drop off between the freshman and sophmore and juniors and seniors. Thus, look for Miami to be a top 10 team in 2010.
I like Miami BIG in 2010, not next year. But the Canes will be good in 2009.
Let us look at just ACC for next year.
UNC returns 15 starters and has without question the best coach in the ACC
Virginia Tech returns 15 starters and gets Miami, Virginia and UNC at home!
Miami does play a lot of young players, But loses some VERY good defensive players. Plus a young coach who is still learnig... But he IS learning!
GT returns 15 starters and gets UNC, Va. Tech and Clemson at home next year!
FSU, as of late, it seems is always looking for an offensive line and a quarterback. Defensively they have been exposed giving up an average of 27 points in their last six conference games. FSU, in the last four years is 1-3 against Clemson, 2-2 against NC State, 1-3 against Wake Forest, 2-2 against Boston College and 2-1 against Maryland. Sounds more like a team that is.... well average.
FSU and Miami are headed in different directions.
from about 1 month ago
Jay,
I'm a little suprised by a few of your comments. Playing freshmen and starting and seeing significant playing time are entirely different. To be honest Miami loses a few players nbut more than likely this will be the end of the first round draft choice streak so on that level it isn't anything that there isn't better on the roster. I think you need to really watch a Miami game and tell me if any other team plays as many freshman as significantly, it isn't even close really and the talent level is beyond levels I have ever seen at the U and I have been around for all of the CHamionship rins, winning streaks, etc. THis group of linebackers is the best Miami has ever had, I am not jst saying that and nor is it something we throw around. THis is better than the DJ Williams Jon Vilma group and even better than the bermuda triangle of Barrow, smith and Armstead of the fames * rushing yards oer game against year and title winners. I think you will be rethinking this very shortly. As a unit, this is best bunch of wideouts Miami has ever had, once again, a monster statement but very true. Throw in the last two winners of Mr. Florida football and both breakers of all of Tim Tebow's HIgh School recodds at QB and a few 350 +nose tackles who run like the wind and lock down man corners and weve all seen this formula in Coral Gables before and it's scary, I know. I forgot to mention the #1 RB recruit in the nation.
from about 1 month ago
yikes I butchered some typing..the bermuda triangle averaged 8 yards rushing against per game for an entire season.
about 1 month ago
I think you've lost all credit when you put Ball State, Boise State, and Utah over great one-loss teams like Texas, OU, USC, UF, and PSU. That's just ridiculous.
from about 1 month ago
thanks for your comments, I appreciate your input.
from about 1 month ago
Isaac, that brings up a good point. I say if they are ranked higher and with no losses at the end of the year they deserve a BCS bowl game. My question is are they really deserving of such high rankings? It is totally subjective, but not sure how you compare a Ball State no-loss schedule with say a Buckeye two losses to top 5 teams or USC one stumble record.
Sounds like Obama plans to fix that one!
from about 1 month ago
Doug,
I agree with you, there is no fair and consistent way so I am just being consistent with the methodology I've used all year which is to have the teams ranked and then as they win and lose move them up ito vacant apots, a pretty simple formula. Then I go to the 1 loss, 2, etc. I certainly don't watch ESPN, listen to what they have to say and rank them. Everyone knows I watch almost every game every week, if you want, feel free to stop by my chatroom on a weekday game night or a saturday, trust me, you guys aren't alone in your opinions of my rankings. They are what they are and until these things are settled on the field everyone will be entitled o their opinion, I certainyl don't try and discredit anyone else's.
about 1 month ago
How can you possibly have Beanie Wells over Shonn Greene? Have you really not watched any of his highlights this season or even saturday against Purdue?
from about 1 month ago
I don't watch any highlight shows, I only watch all of the games.
Thanks for the comments and input.
about 1 month ago
Ole Miss!!!! ahhhh!!!!
Hasn't UF shown you enough in these past six games? They've ran through arguable the best conference in the nation(at least second best) since the loss, in a fashion that NO-ONE has ever done.
Check out Ole Miss scores/schedule this year, you do remember they lost to #1 Bama by 4 points, AT BAMA.
They haven't lost a game by more than 1 score to anyone, besides AUB which was a 10 point loss, their worst.
Basically they were, on average, 1 1/2 scores away from winning each of those games, and I think they would either beat or give a helluva battle to your #3-5 whom have played next to no-one!
If MISS played in the WAC, ACC, or PAC-10, or BIG-10 they would be an undefeated or a 1 loss team, in my opinion, my reasoning:
their defense is smothering(the only to contain the now uncontainable gators) and they move the ball well averaging 30.2 pts. a game, a rarity in the SEC. Their Schedule is a legit SEC schedule, not too shabby.
My point is, they are VERY underrated, and you WILL be see much from them under Nutt.
Mark my words, my friend, they will give LSU FITS!
Anyway, where will UF be ranked in your top 10 after they stomp FL st. and beat up on BAMA pretty good? Please say they will jump all of those softies BCS busters!!! jk.
from about 1 month ago
I'll give you that UF has won games against lesser opponenets but it certainly isn't in a fashion "no one has ever done" I could name countless teams who have done it better (while running the table) but look at the 83 Nebraska team who didn't win the national title either:
8/29 vs. Penn State (8-4-1) W 44 6 @ East Rutherford, NJ Kick-off Classic
9/10 vs. Wyoming (7-5) W 56 20
9/17 @ Minnesota (1-10) W 84 13
9/24 vs. UCLA (7-4-1) W 42 10
10/1 vs. Syracuse (6-5) W 63 7
10/8 @ *Oklahoma State (8-4) W 14 10
10/15 @ *Missouri (7-5) W 34 13
10/22 vs. *Colorado (4-7) W 69 19
10/29 @ *Kansas State (3-8) W 51 25
11/5 vs. *Iowa State (4-7) W 72 29
11/12 vs. *Kansas (4-6-1) W 67 13
11/26 @ *Oklahoma (8-4) W 28 21
1/2 vs. Miami (Florida) (11-1) L 30 31 @ Miami, FL Orange Bowl
I could post 50 more just like it, thanks for the comments and the read.
from about 1 month ago
My point was its an actual fact that no team in the vast history of the SEC has beaten 6 SEC teams, consecutively, by 28 points or more, like the gators have done.
Its absolutely amazing, because no matter what anyone else says, the smartest college football minds all agree that the SEC is tops with the BIG-12 and to run over top ranked opponents, and top ranked defenses like they have done, is almost stupid.
from about 1 month ago
Carson,
The SEC has been tops for a few years. Not this year though. The Big 12 is better. Auburn and TN's decline has hurt your conference this year. The smartest football minds in the South may think the SEC is the best. Nationwide, no. Both traditional powerhouses (Aurburn & TN) would have problems with all 12 big 12 Teams.
about 1 month ago
Mitch,
I lam loving the top ten columns.
I hope you are right on with the 2009 top 10.
Aside from liking the gators at the top I can't wait to see FSU & Miami return to the top of the national stage. I love the in-state rivalries. I wish the gators would go ahead and keep the UF vs Miami game every year. We will have to settle for USF next year and settle some of the in-state trash talk!
from about 1 month ago
Thanks and it would be good for the game but I think the only way the Gators would consider is to have the bulk of the games home games for them and Miami would never go for it.
SHould be some fun years ahead.
about 1 month ago
Right Mitch. I usually take your ramblings with a grain of salt, but anyone saying USC rubs it in is just hating at that point. Usually u have good rankings and decent analysis, but that comment was beyond stupid.
Give me one example in Pete Carroll's tenure of "rubbing" it in. Just don't post a score like the WSU game either. that is not rubbing it in. What else is a team supposed to do? Take 3 knees after the second half kickoff for the rest of the game?
If u dislike the Trojans, just say it.
And yes, going for the field goal was a douche move by Harbaugh. I would have been fine with just going for it. Going for it down 4 touchdowns is playing football. Kicking just to kick is being a douche.
from about 1 month ago
Pretty simple, why didn't USC just take a knee on the drive just prior to the whole TO thing? did they not feel 23 was significant enough? They could have drained the clock but punched it in for another TD and that's why Harbaugh did what he did, at least that's my interpretation. I don't watch much TV other than the games but were there any interviews on sportscenter or any of those shows that contradict what I'm saying as I've been wrong before but that's what it looked like from where I was watching it.
from about 1 month ago
Rubbing it in is throwing into the endzone 3 times with a minute to go. Running student body right/left a couple times is not rubbing it in. It is on the Defense to stop it. Taking a knee wouldn't have run out the clock. To run out the clock, USC would have needed a couple first downs, but on the last TD, the short field and a long run led to no option other then just running base offense runs. Stanford couldn't stop it. USC just ran a base run every 40 seconds.
about 1 month ago
Thanks for the Top Ten big Ten running backs... I agree completely. It looks like Saturday's game will be the last time Beanie takes the field in Columbus. Hard to turn down a top 5 pick and I don't blame him. He will be hard to replace though. I will be holding out all hope until the final announcement though. No one thought Laurinitis or Jenkins would come back this season either, so who knows?
I also love you pre-season top 10. It would be very nice indeed to see both Florida State and Miami back in the top ten. It's been too long.
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